Inter Milan carry unwanted Real Madrid curse into Champions League clash at Bernabéu

Inter Milan carry unwanted Real Madrid curse into Champions League clash at Bernabéu Inter Milan will arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu for their 2026/27 UEFA Champions League opener carrying a record they will be desperate to change. The Nerazzurri have not beaten Real Madrid in Europe this century, with their last victory over the Spanish giants coming almost three decades ago.  As such, their most recent victory came in 1998 at San Siro. Luigi Simoni’s Inter defeated Guus Hiddink’s Madrid 3-1 in the group stage, with Roberto Baggio scoring twice and Ivan Zamorano completing the victory. Since then, the balance has been in Real Madrid’s favour. Inter have faced the Spanish side four times this century and failed to win any of those matches, whether in Milan or at the Bernabeu. Inter’s long wait began after 1998 The scale of the drought is striking, as Inter have changed their crest twice since that last European victory over Madrid, yet another win against the 15-time European champions has remained elusive. Real Madrid have won each of their last four meetings with Inter Milan. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) The meetings in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Champions League campaigns offered Inter further chances, but neither produced the breakthrough they wanted. This rivalry also has a much older chapter that gives Inter a very different memory of facing Real Madrid. In 1964, Helenio Herrera’s legendary Inter defeated Real Madrid 3-1 in the European Cup final in Vienna.  That victory remains one of the defining moments of the Italian side’s era. Real Madrid have their own answer from the 1960s Inter’s European history against Madrid is not built entirely on disappointment.  Inter Milan have not beaten Real Madrid since 1998. (Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford /Allsport) The two clubs produced some of their most important encounters during the 1960s, when both were among the continent’s leading forces. In fact, Inter are one of only three clubs, alongside Benfica and Liverpool, to have defeated Real Madrid in a European Cup final. Madrid responded two years after the Vienna final. They won the first leg of the 1966 European Cup semi-final 1-0 before securing qualification with a draw at San Siro.  Real Madrid subsequently went on to win the competition by beating Partizan in the final. Overall, considering only UEFA Champions League matches, Real Madrid hold the edge with seven wins, while Inter have won five, with only one draw between the two sides.